Process of roasting coffee.



No. 726,280. PATBNTPD APR. z8, 1903.

L. GIAGOMINI.

APPARATUS PoR ROASTING COFFEE. APPLIOATEIONTILBD JUNE 21, 1902.

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All!!! 10.726.280 PATENTE@ APR.28,1903. L. GIACOMINI.

APPARATUS POR ROAS'I'ING COFFEE. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 21, 1902. v'119 MODEL. 2 snnmssnnm a.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUIGI GIACOMINI, OF FLORENCE, ITALY.

APPARATUS FOR ROASTKING COFFEE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 726,280, dated April 28, 1903.

I Application iiled JuneZl, 1902. -Serial No. 112,696. (No model.)

ing Coee, of which the following is a specifi,

cation.

This invention relates to animproved apparatus for roastingcoiee in such a manner that the volatile substances which contain the caffeol and aromatic oils are recovered and reincorporated into the beans after the roasting process is completed; and for this purpose the invention consists of an apparatus for roasting coee, which comprises a roasting-drum, a tubular'shaft passing through and supporting saiddrum and provided with-y in the same with perforations, a movable furnace, means for supporting the same beneath said drum, a condenser connected withfthe tubular shaft of the drum, and movable cooling-drum adapted to be placed below the roasting-drum on the removal of the furnace; and the invention consists,further, of certain details of construction and combinations of parts, which will be fully described hereinafter and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical transverse section of the roasting-drum on line 8 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the apparatus, showing the parts in position during the roasting process. Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is an end elevation showing therfurnace withdrawn fromthe roasting-drum-'and the cooling-drum placed'in position below the roasting-drum ready for receiving the roasted beans for cooling. Y y

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the frame of thefapparatus, and B amovable furnace charged with any suitable fuel and supported on wheels and adapted to bemoved upon horizontalrailsm supported by the frame, into and out of the casing A' of the roasting-drum D. The casing A is provided with a hinged semicylindrical cover A2, that is provided with a chimney a3. The roasting-drum D is supported upon and at an anlrations a. `rated fromthe beans during the roasting gle of inclination to a tubular shaft d, which passes through the same and which turns in suitable bearings of the casing. Motion is imparted to the shaft and'drum by any suitable means, such'as a hand-crank h, applied yto the shaft. The opposite end of the tubular'shaft D is connected at et by a suitable couplin'gwitha pipe d', which communicates with the cover'D of a condenser E. The condenser'E is provided with a water-jacket F, to which water' is supplied from a suitable reservoir R through a pipe d2, the water pass- `ing away through a pipe cl3 at the upper part of thejacket. The hollow shaft dis provided within the drum D with a number of perfo- The volatile substances evapoprocess enter the shaft through said perfofrations and are conductedby the shaft d and pipe d' into the condenser E, the light coffeeshells thatvare carried off with the vapors being collected on a' screen il, arranged at the bottom of the cover D', as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. A pipe e passes through the cover D to the outside of the same and is provided at its outer end with a whistle b.

' strength and indicates thereby that the roasting process is nearly completed. When the sound of the whistle commences to increase, it is a sign that vthe roasting process should be interrupted by withdrawing the furnace from below the roasting-drum into the position shown in Fig. 6.

The roastingdrum isl provided with an opening in vits wall near one end and a lid- 0,2 for said opening hinged to the drum and preferably provided with an asbestos packing a4, so as to produce the tight closing of the drum and prevent any escape of the vapors there from at the lid. The cover a2 is closed during' the roasting, andthe chimney of the same provides a vent by. which is established a strong current of air around the'drum, which results in equalizing the temperature around the same. As the roasting-drum is supported at an angle of inclination to the axis of the hollow shaft, the coffee-beans charged into the same are thrown at each rotation of the s'sA IOO

drum from one end of the cylinder toward the other, so as to be kept not only in motion around the shaft, but also in longitudinal direction, so as to produce thereby the effective roasting of the same.

For using the apparatus the roasting-drum is filled to about half its capacity with green beans, the lid cplaced in closed position, and the furnace B placed beneath the drum. The drum is then rotated. During the roasting the aromatic volatile vapors driven off pass through the tubular shaft dinto the condenser E, where the caifeol and oils are condensed into liquid form in the bottom of the condenser, while the steam passes through the pipe e' and whistle b into the air.

From a point near the bottom of the condenser E extends a pipe b to a smaller condenser E, located adjacent the condenser E and also cooled by water from the reservoir R by means of supply and discharge pipesf and f. The condenser E is provided near the bottom with a faucet e and the condenser E with a similar faucet or cock e2, so as to permit drawing off the condensed coffee-es sence from the same. By passing the vapors into the second condenser the aromatic essences of the coffee-beans are separated to a large extent from the steam and other noncondensing vapors, which do not pass over and which are conducted to the atmosphere through the pipe e' and Whistle b. T he coffeeessence is thereby obtained in the condenser E in a purer condition than in the condenser E and better suited for use later on in the process.

When the roasting operation is completed, the furnace is drawn in outward direction on its horizontal rails 1, the lid a2 of the roasting-drum swung open, and the drum turned, so as to deliver into the cooling-drum C. This drum C i's of preferably cylindrical form and of a size adapted to enter the casing below the roasting-drum, partially in the space vacated by the furnace. It is supported in a suitable wheeled box-like casing or receptable C by means of a shaft o, mounted in bearings of said box, and can be rotated by means of a hand-crank c, applied to said shaft. The casing C runs on rails r2, preferably upturned at one end. The drum C is provided in its Wall with an opening and with a sliding lid e3 for closing the same. The beans having been delivered into the coolingdrum, a small quantity of coffee essence from the condenser E is sprinkled over them, the lid e3 closed, and the drum rotated. By this operation the beans are thoroughly agitated in contact with the essence, and the same is thoroughly absorbed by the beans while cooling. A small quantity of brown sugar is preferably added to the essence, which gives a glossy coating to the beans, thereby causing them to retain the absorbed essence and improving their appearance.

My improved apparatus can also be used for making coffee substitutes from wheat,

barley, rbc. For this purpose the cereal is roasted in the roasting drum in the usual manner; but the shaft d and tube d are disconnected at a', so that the vapors and steam pass olf into the atmosphere. The furnace is removed when the cereal substances are sufficiently roasted, and they are then delivered into the cooling-drum. A certain quantity of coffee essence obtained from the roasting of coffee and condensation of the vapors, as described, is then added in connection with a small quantity of brown-sugar solution and the drum rotated during thecooling of the cereals, the essence being thoroughly absorbed. In this manner coffee substitutes having almost the identical taste of coffee can be produced.

Coffee and coffee substitutes roasted by the improved process decribed have a more aromatic taste and better iiavor than when the volatile iiavors are allowed to pass ofI" through the chimney Without being regained and returned into the bean. Coffee-beans roasted in this manner yield a greater quantity of coffee than beans roasted in the manner heretofore commonly practiced. By the apparatus described the aromatic substances of the coffee are utilized and reincorporated in the bean in a perfect manner, a bean of higher power is produced, and a valuable economy effected.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. An apparatus for roastingcoee, consisting of a casing provided with a hinged lid, a chimney on said lid, a roasting-drum in said casing, a furnace adapted to enter said casing beneath the roasting-drum, said furnace being provided with suitable Wheels or casters, horizontal rails extending into said casing for supporting said furnace, and extending at the outside of the same so as to receive and support the furnace at the outside of the casing, a hollowr shaft passing through and provided within said roasting-drum with perforations, means for imparting rotary motion to said shaft, a pipe connected at one end with one end of said shaft, and a condenser connected with the other end of said pipe, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a rotary roastingdrum having a tubular shaft provided with openings Within the drum, of a condenser, a pipe connected at one end by a suitable coupling with said tubular shaft and at the other end with the condenser, a Whistle arranged on the cover of said condenser, and a second condenser connected with said first condenser for condensing the coffee essence separated from the steam and other vapors, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a roasting-drum, of a casing surrounding the same, a furnace for heating said drum, a hollow shaft passing through said drum and provided within the same with perforations, means for rotating IIO the drum, a pipe connected at one end by a suitable coupling with said shaft, a condenser connected with the opposite end of said pipe, a cover on said condenser provided with an outlet-pipe and a'whistle for steam and other vapors, and a faucet for drawing off the condensed coifee essence from the bottom of said condenser, substantially as set forth.

` therein from the roasting-drum, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a supportingframe and a casing supported thereby, of a roasting-drum in said casing, rails extending beneath said drum and at the outside of the casing, a movable furnace on said rails, adapted to pass Within the casingbeneath said drum, a cooling-drum, a wheeled casing for said cooling-drum, said'drum'tbeing adapted to enter said casing beneath the drum partially in the space vacated by the furnace, and means for rotating said cooling-drum, substantially as set forth. V

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

LUIGI GIAGOMINI.

Witnesses GRAsTI FRILLI, SPIRITO BERNARDI. 

